Toledo Residents Urge City Council to Prioritize Sidewalk Repairs in 2025 Budget

TOLEDO, Ohio — Last week, the Toledo City Council passed the city’s budget for 2025, but some members and residents are expressing frustration over one key omission: a sidewalk repair program. This marks the second consecutive year that the issue of deteriorating sidewalks has not been addressed in the city’s budget, leaving many concerned about pedestrian safety.

Councilman George Sarantou has been vocal about the need for action, particularly in neighborhoods with aging infrastructure. “I travel all over the city of Toledo in different neighborhoods, and some of those sidewalks are in horrible condition,” Sarantou said. “It’s not just from tree roots buckling the sidewalk, but also due to the age of the sidewalks themselves.”

Sarantou has been in contact with the mayor’s office since last summer, advocating for a sidewalk repair program, but has seen little progress. He believes that allocating funds for sidewalk repairs, even a small amount each year, would be an investment in the city’s infrastructure. “The longer we delay a sidewalk replacement program, the worse those sidewalks are going to get,” Sarantou warned.

The councilman suggested that if a sidewalk repair program were to be added, it would likely come from the city’s capital improvement fund. He emphasized that the costs would not be burdensome for residents. “When we do sidewalks for residents, it’s an assessed service, so residents do pay for that,” Sarantou explained. “Typically, replacing a sidewalk panel costs around $200, and if that amount is spread over five or 10 years, it adds only a small amount to property tax bills.”

But for many residents, the issue is more urgent than financial concerns. Jane Petitjean, a Toledo resident, described the sinking sidewalk in front of her home as a safety hazard. “Our sidewalk is sinking further in, and there’s a big gap that’s getting bigger,” Petitjean said. “It’s a mess. My husband was mowing the lawn when he fell into the sinkhole and hurt his leg—it was all bruised and lacerated.” Petitjean added that despite contacting the city about the issue, the only response she received was the placement of two orange barrels over the hole.

Petitjean’s concerns reflect broader frustrations in Toledo’s older neighborhoods, such as the Old West End, where deteriorating sidewalks are a common sight. “I walk the streets of this neighborhood every day, and the sidewalks are a mess everywhere,” she said. “It’s a huge issue here.”

Harry Tennery, another resident of the Old West End, noted that tree roots have caused significant damage to sidewalks in the area. “It’s an old neighborhood, and there are places where the tree roots have pushed up the sidewalks, causing cracks and uneven surfaces,” Tennery explained.

Councilman Sarantou specifically recommended that local news outlet WTOL 11 visit the Old West End, a neighborhood he believes is in desperate need of sidewalk repairs. “We want to make sure pedestrians—especially children and seniors—are safe in those neighborhoods,” Sarantou said. “When sidewalks are buckling or in disrepair, it creates a real hazard for people.”

While many residents agree with the need for sidewalk repairs, some express concerns about preserving the neighborhood’s historic character. The Old West End is known for its cobblestone sidewalks, which have not been replaced. Some residents argue that, while safety is important, maintaining the historic charm of the area is equally vital.

Despite the differing opinions, the issue of sidewalk repairs continues to garner attention, with residents hoping for action in the near future. As it stands, the city’s budget for 2025 does not allocate funding for a sidewalk repair program, but Councilman Sarantou has formally requested an explanation from the mayor’s office as to why the program has not been included.

For many Toledoans, the question remains: when will the city address the growing safety concerns caused by neglected sidewalks? Until then, residents like Petitjean and Tennery continue to wait for a solution that will both improve safety and protect the integrity of their neighborhoods.